Current Playlist
Haven't posted one of these in a while, so I thought I'd share some of the favorite songs on my top 10 most played songs of the moment:
Miley Cyrus - See You Again
"The next time we hang out, I will redeem myself..."
Sure it's a catchy song, but I think it's stayed on my playlist for this long because she says "I will redeem myself". I have no idea why that line cracks me up so much, but it does. I think it just reminds me of something me and the guys would say to each other while playing sports or video games or whatever.
Good Charlotte - Dance Floor Anthem
"Everybody put up your hands, say 'I don't wanna be in love, I don't wanna be in love'..."
No, I'm not gonna become a hardcore emo-rocker, but I have to admit some of their music is surprisingly well done. Quality song.
The All-American Rejects - It Ends Tonight
"When darkness turns to light, it ends tonight, it ends tonight..."
Some songs just have a strange way of capturing the feel of a moment in your life so perfectly. I can't speak for exactly what the band was thinking about when they wrote the words to this song, but I think they might as well have been listening in on one phone call I had in particular, not all that long ago.
Casting Crowns - Who Am I
"Whom shall I fear, whom shall I fear? I am Yours..."
The lyrics seem a little cheesy at first, but in my mind they sums up so well what it means to be a child of God. Recognizing how insignificant we are in the grand scheme of the universe, but at the same time realizing how much we are still loved and cared for in spite of our imperfections, is such an amazing feeling.
Taylor Swift - Teardrops On My Guitar
"He's the reason for the teardrops on my guitar, the only thing that keeps me wishing on a wishing star..."
First Carrie Underwood, now Taylor Swift. Am I turning into a not-so-secret fan of country music? Hmmm... maybe I just love them country gals. Now that you mention it, I did like Shania and Faith Hill too. I must admit that I've always had a thing for girls with Southern accents.
One Republic - Apologize
"I loved you with the fire red, now it's turning blue..."
While I don't agree with the lyrics (I'd like to believe that it's never too late to apologize), this is still one of my favorite songs of the past year. It's another one that's managed to stay on my playlist a lot longer than most songs do. The music carries such a uniquely creepy tone, and I think one day we'll all look back at it as one of the defining songs of 2007-2008. I especially liked how it was used in one of the key moments of an episode of Gossip Girl. Haha - only half joking.
Commodores - Easy
"That's why I'm easy... I'm easy like Sunday morning..."
Had to include some old-school stuff. This song is a perfect example of the phrase, "oldie but goodie". I absolutely love this one.
Britney Spears - Break The Ice
"You got my body spinning like a hurricane..."
A completely mindless song with no meaning whatsoever, that I had trouble even coming up with a favorite line from it. Still, it was my favorite track even last year when I first got the CD. I thought I had listened to it to death at the time, but it's weird how when they start playing it on the radio as a single, it breathes new life and gets you back into the song again.
Flyleaf - I'm So Sick
"So you'll SHUT UP!! And stay sleeping... With my screaming in your itching ears..."
If you ever wondered what a female vocals version of Linkin Park would sound like, wonder no more. Special credit goes to Rock Band for bringing this group to the "mainstream".
Flo Rida & Timbaland - Elevator
"She got a nail kit, she got a hair kit, she got a Gucci bag, brand new outfit..."
One of those beats that gets stuck in my head during the day at work and helps me pretend like I work at a dance club. Only problem is, I can't tell if I'm actually bumping to this song or "4 Minutes To Save The World" by Madonna/Justin Timberlake. I think Timbaland decided his beats were so good, that he could make more than one song out of the same beat and release them at around the same time. At least it's a catchy beat though.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
Love Your Mater
"To thy happy children of the future, those of the past send greetings"
As I briefly mentioned before in the last blog entry, a company recruiting effort brought me down to U of I recently for a short visit. After graduating almost 6 years ago, I've been back down to Champaign more than a few times since, the last trip being for the '07 Homecoming weekend. And pretty much every one of those trips has had its share of adventures. Some stories I can share (and have), while others will have to stay classified to protect the not-so-innocent.
This time, however, my trip down to school actually felt much different than all of those previous experiences. A large part of it was probably because I was there on business (and not for wafflemaker hunting), but a lot of little things about this visit made me feel more like an older alum than someone who still kind of fits in with the college students. Definitely a new feeling for me.
One of the notable parts of this visit was staying at the Illini Union hotel for the first time. Like many students, I spent a big chunk of my college years in or around the Union. In between classes, there was no better place to go shoot some pool, grab a bite to eat at the food court, check your email in the computer lab, or find a spot to study/hang out. It was also a common place for job interviews, holding events in the ballroom, or for people to get cold-packs/contraceptives from the McKinley booth (not me of course).
At any rate, I must have walked through the Union at least thousands of times during my 4 years at school, that it was practically a second home. But one part of the Union that I never saw was the 3rd and 4th floor hotel rooms - that is, until now. Some of you may not have even known that there were hotel rooms at the Union, but I'd heard of them before and always wondered what they were like. Well, wonder no more:
As far as hotels go, the Illini Union hotel is pretty average, maybe even a bit below average. It's clean and has all the neccessary amenities, but the rooms are a bit on the small side and the AC/heater is noisy. Of course, it didn't matter to me because I was so fascinated by the novelty of staying overnight at the Illini Union (I'm easy to please like that).
One other thing about the Union that I should mention is that the basement McDonald's is no more! It has been replaced by a Chick-Fil-A.
Out of the 3 big restaurants in that food court, the last one I would've expected to go would be the McDonald's. Yet somehow Sbarro and Rice Garden both outlasted the golden arches. I was pretty shocked.
Whenever I visit Champaign, it seems like the place that changes the most is Green Street. I still remember the days when there was a "CO-ED" theater, dingy little stores that sold records and posters, and multiple Chinese buffets named Yen Ching. Now, the place has been transformed into a pedestrian friendly strip of chain restaurants that I'm guessing would barely be recognizable to an older alum than myself.
This time around, I don't think Green Street changed all that much (although it has only been a few months). The one thing I noticed was that the Legend's sign is orange and blue now (I think it used to be red and green).
My favorite part of the trip, as you might guess, was dinner. I convinced the folks I was with to come with me to Kamakura, one of the nicer places around town for Japanese food. The prices there were always a bit too steep for a college kid to go regularly, but that didn't really matter now that the company was covering the expense. It made me feel particularly special to dine at the Teppanyaki (hibachi) grill side of the restaurant for once, I don't think I ever ate in that section when I was a student.
One last thing about this trip that reminded me that I'm not in college anymore, was picking up a DI (that's Daily Illini, the student newspaper for non U of I grads). The format of the paper has changed to look a little more professional, but what amused me was reading the front page headlines:
I have to say, only on a college campus would you see the top stories be "US Recession May Benefit Environment", and "Bill Aims To Legalize Marijuana".
"To thy happy children of the future, those of the past send greetings"
As I briefly mentioned before in the last blog entry, a company recruiting effort brought me down to U of I recently for a short visit. After graduating almost 6 years ago, I've been back down to Champaign more than a few times since, the last trip being for the '07 Homecoming weekend. And pretty much every one of those trips has had its share of adventures. Some stories I can share (and have), while others will have to stay classified to protect the not-so-innocent.
This time, however, my trip down to school actually felt much different than all of those previous experiences. A large part of it was probably because I was there on business (and not for wafflemaker hunting), but a lot of little things about this visit made me feel more like an older alum than someone who still kind of fits in with the college students. Definitely a new feeling for me.
One of the notable parts of this visit was staying at the Illini Union hotel for the first time. Like many students, I spent a big chunk of my college years in or around the Union. In between classes, there was no better place to go shoot some pool, grab a bite to eat at the food court, check your email in the computer lab, or find a spot to study/hang out. It was also a common place for job interviews, holding events in the ballroom, or for people to get cold-packs/contraceptives from the McKinley booth (not me of course).
At any rate, I must have walked through the Union at least thousands of times during my 4 years at school, that it was practically a second home. But one part of the Union that I never saw was the 3rd and 4th floor hotel rooms - that is, until now. Some of you may not have even known that there were hotel rooms at the Union, but I'd heard of them before and always wondered what they were like. Well, wonder no more:
As far as hotels go, the Illini Union hotel is pretty average, maybe even a bit below average. It's clean and has all the neccessary amenities, but the rooms are a bit on the small side and the AC/heater is noisy. Of course, it didn't matter to me because I was so fascinated by the novelty of staying overnight at the Illini Union (I'm easy to please like that).
One other thing about the Union that I should mention is that the basement McDonald's is no more! It has been replaced by a Chick-Fil-A.
Out of the 3 big restaurants in that food court, the last one I would've expected to go would be the McDonald's. Yet somehow Sbarro and Rice Garden both outlasted the golden arches. I was pretty shocked.
Whenever I visit Champaign, it seems like the place that changes the most is Green Street. I still remember the days when there was a "CO-ED" theater, dingy little stores that sold records and posters, and multiple Chinese buffets named Yen Ching. Now, the place has been transformed into a pedestrian friendly strip of chain restaurants that I'm guessing would barely be recognizable to an older alum than myself.
This time around, I don't think Green Street changed all that much (although it has only been a few months). The one thing I noticed was that the Legend's sign is orange and blue now (I think it used to be red and green).
My favorite part of the trip, as you might guess, was dinner. I convinced the folks I was with to come with me to Kamakura, one of the nicer places around town for Japanese food. The prices there were always a bit too steep for a college kid to go regularly, but that didn't really matter now that the company was covering the expense. It made me feel particularly special to dine at the Teppanyaki (hibachi) grill side of the restaurant for once, I don't think I ever ate in that section when I was a student.
One last thing about this trip that reminded me that I'm not in college anymore, was picking up a DI (that's Daily Illini, the student newspaper for non U of I grads). The format of the paper has changed to look a little more professional, but what amused me was reading the front page headlines:
I have to say, only on a college campus would you see the top stories be "US Recession May Benefit Environment", and "Bill Aims To Legalize Marijuana".
Thursday, March 06, 2008
March Badness
March is always one of my favorite months of the year. It is a time when the winter cold starts to wind down, baseball spring training gets into full swing, and of course the NCAA tourney to spice things up.
Unfortunately, this year we're 0-for-3 so far on those things I just listed. It has been the worst Chicago winter that I can remember in a while, and even as I look at the weather forecast for this week, there's still more snow and single-digit temperatures ahead. As for spring training, I guess I'm cautiously optimistic about this coming season for the White Sox, even though they didn't appear to improve much in the offseason. I'm sure the excitement will hit me eventually, but for now, I'm only half-heartedly following the spring training results. And about the NCAA tournament, well, let's just say this hasn't exactly been a stellar season for Illini basketball.
On top of those things, this March I will most likely have to say goodbye to my favorite sister and my favorite pup. With both of them moving to Minnesota, I will be living in an empty house for the first time since the earliest days when I originally closed on this place. Though I kind of enjoy living alone, and people have already been flooding me with suggestions on turning my place into a bachelor pad, or about what kind of new puppy to get, I'll still definitely miss having both of them around.
Fortunately, it's not all doom and gloom lately - here are a few positive things of note lately:
- Helping my sis pick out a banquet hall for wedding reception is one of the most enjoyable responsibilities ever. Getting to "sample" meals at each place is like a dream come true for me. Now all I need is to get my own show on Food Network, where I do nothing but eat good food.
- Went out to the bars for the first time since the smoking ban went into effect (at least I think it was the first time). It felt kind of weird to leave a bar at the end of the night, and not feel like I was covered in smoke residue. Weird but definitely nice. I could get used to that feeling.
- Normally I don't do the "give up something for Lent" thing, but this year I decided to actually make a commitment, and I am actually very glad that I did. So far it has been a very good experience for me. Even though it was a very small thing to give up, sticking to this commitment has still helped me to see and understand more of the meaning behind the 40-day fast. I'm not sure yet on whether or not I'll continue my "fast" after Easter, but we'll see what happens.
- Heading down to Champaign later this month for a company recruiting thing. If you ask me, it's always fun for a alum to visit the alma mater, no matter the circumstances. This time around it will be on business, so most likely there will be none of the craziness of other recent trips (at least I hope not). By the way, if anyone wants me to pick them up some Pokey sticks or a PrimeTime calzone, let me know. I'll see what I can do.
- Have had my new Nokia N82 for over a month now, and I absolutely love the thing. It's so great to have a camera, mp3/video player, GPS, full internet browser, calendar, etc. with me every time I leave the house, all in one little candybar sized phone. The camera in particular is almost too convenient - I find myself taking pictures of almost everything around me, which I'm not sure is a good or bad thing.
One of the very underrated features I like is the "Nokia Lifeblog" software that came with the phone. Basically, it syncs up all the pictures and videos you take, along with text messages you send/receive, etc., and organizes it all in a timeline format. The first time I saw the results, it was actually kind of startling to see my daily life laid out and recorded like that. But I gotta say it's pretty darn cool to see how much a little phone can integrate itself into your life so seamlessly. I was definitely impressed.
- A few years ago, I wrote in this blog about how I loved the "Fall-Back" part of Daylight Savings Time so much, that instead of doing "Spring-Forward" to get back on track, they should just "Fall-Back" 23 more times throughout the year and give up a day in the process. Well, my thoughts on that have definitely changed. "Spring Forward" (which happens this Sunday, I think), is now a very exciting time for me. I'll gladly trade in that extra hour of sleep if it means more sunshine in the days ahead. Gotta have my sunshine.
March is always one of my favorite months of the year. It is a time when the winter cold starts to wind down, baseball spring training gets into full swing, and of course the NCAA tourney to spice things up.
Unfortunately, this year we're 0-for-3 so far on those things I just listed. It has been the worst Chicago winter that I can remember in a while, and even as I look at the weather forecast for this week, there's still more snow and single-digit temperatures ahead. As for spring training, I guess I'm cautiously optimistic about this coming season for the White Sox, even though they didn't appear to improve much in the offseason. I'm sure the excitement will hit me eventually, but for now, I'm only half-heartedly following the spring training results. And about the NCAA tournament, well, let's just say this hasn't exactly been a stellar season for Illini basketball.
On top of those things, this March I will most likely have to say goodbye to my favorite sister and my favorite pup. With both of them moving to Minnesota, I will be living in an empty house for the first time since the earliest days when I originally closed on this place. Though I kind of enjoy living alone, and people have already been flooding me with suggestions on turning my place into a bachelor pad, or about what kind of new puppy to get, I'll still definitely miss having both of them around.
Fortunately, it's not all doom and gloom lately - here are a few positive things of note lately:
- Helping my sis pick out a banquet hall for wedding reception is one of the most enjoyable responsibilities ever. Getting to "sample" meals at each place is like a dream come true for me. Now all I need is to get my own show on Food Network, where I do nothing but eat good food.
- Went out to the bars for the first time since the smoking ban went into effect (at least I think it was the first time). It felt kind of weird to leave a bar at the end of the night, and not feel like I was covered in smoke residue. Weird but definitely nice. I could get used to that feeling.
- Normally I don't do the "give up something for Lent" thing, but this year I decided to actually make a commitment, and I am actually very glad that I did. So far it has been a very good experience for me. Even though it was a very small thing to give up, sticking to this commitment has still helped me to see and understand more of the meaning behind the 40-day fast. I'm not sure yet on whether or not I'll continue my "fast" after Easter, but we'll see what happens.
- Heading down to Champaign later this month for a company recruiting thing. If you ask me, it's always fun for a alum to visit the alma mater, no matter the circumstances. This time around it will be on business, so most likely there will be none of the craziness of other recent trips (at least I hope not). By the way, if anyone wants me to pick them up some Pokey sticks or a PrimeTime calzone, let me know. I'll see what I can do.
- Have had my new Nokia N82 for over a month now, and I absolutely love the thing. It's so great to have a camera, mp3/video player, GPS, full internet browser, calendar, etc. with me every time I leave the house, all in one little candybar sized phone. The camera in particular is almost too convenient - I find myself taking pictures of almost everything around me, which I'm not sure is a good or bad thing.
One of the very underrated features I like is the "Nokia Lifeblog" software that came with the phone. Basically, it syncs up all the pictures and videos you take, along with text messages you send/receive, etc., and organizes it all in a timeline format. The first time I saw the results, it was actually kind of startling to see my daily life laid out and recorded like that. But I gotta say it's pretty darn cool to see how much a little phone can integrate itself into your life so seamlessly. I was definitely impressed.
- A few years ago, I wrote in this blog about how I loved the "Fall-Back" part of Daylight Savings Time so much, that instead of doing "Spring-Forward" to get back on track, they should just "Fall-Back" 23 more times throughout the year and give up a day in the process. Well, my thoughts on that have definitely changed. "Spring Forward" (which happens this Sunday, I think), is now a very exciting time for me. I'll gladly trade in that extra hour of sleep if it means more sunshine in the days ahead. Gotta have my sunshine.
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